Texas Bets Big on Clean Energy: Inside Infinium's Bold Move to Build the World's Largest eFuels Plant

A new era begins in Pecos, Texas

Once a World War II training airfield, the quiet desert near Pecos, Texas is now becoming the home of something radically modern: the world's largest eFuels production facility. This game-changing site, known as Project Roadrunner, is the latest innovation from Infinium, a company at the forefront of the eFuels movement. In partnership with tech leaders like Electric Hydrogen and energy providers such as NextEra Energy Resources, Infinium is redefining what a sustainable energy future can look like in the heart of oil country.

>> RELATED: Infinium Breaks Ground on World’s Largest efuels Plant Near Pecos

Redefining fuel, without replacing it

eFuels, or electrofuels, are synthetic fuels created using captured carbon dioxide and renewable electricity. These fuels are chemically identical to traditional petroleum-based fuels but come with a much lighter carbon footprint. That means they can be used in existing engines, pipelines, and infrastructure, making them an immediate climate solution, not just a future one.

Project Roadrunner will produce 23,000 tonnes (roughly 7.6 million gallons) per year of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other eFuels. Customers already lined up include American Airlines and IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Aer Lingus.

The tech powering Texas' clean fuel revolution

Infinium is tapping the cutting-edge capabilities of Electric Hydrogen, who will supply their 100-megawatt HYPRPlant electrolyzer system. This setup enables the on-site production of green hydrogen, a key ingredient in the eFuels process.

Electric Hydrogen’s CEO, Raffi Garabedian, called the collaboration a major milestone: "Clean hydrogen is happening now and it’s being deployed at real scale in real projects, like Project Roadrunner in Texas." He added that their tech is built in Massachusetts and assembled in Texas, creating a tight loop of domestic innovation and job creation.

It's not just about tech, it's about transformation

Infinium CEO Robert Schuetzle sees the project as more than just a business win. "We do use waste CO2 as an input and have a great partner in Kinetik Holdings," he shared. That carbon would otherwise be vented into the atmosphere. Now, it will be transformed into valuable fuel, turning what was once considered pollution into a profit-driving asset.

Project Roadrunner is also creating real economic impact in West Texas. It’s expected to generate a wave of construction jobs now and long-term employment in operations, logistics, maintenance, and field services. And with an agreement to purchase 150 megawatts of new wind power from a NextEra Energy Resources subsidiary, the plant can operate 24/7 with clean electricity.

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Building on past success, scaling for global impact

This isn’t Infinium’s first big move in Texas. In 2023, their Project Pathfinder in Corpus Christi became the world’s first commercial eFuels production facility, supplying SAF to U.S. and European clients. Project Roadrunner will scale that success, and the company has confirmed it’s already eyeing additional Texas locations for future expansion.

Beyond aviation, the Pecos facility will also produce eDiesel for Amazon's long-haul trucking fleets and eNaphtha, a vital input for plastics manufacturing in Europe. The fuels are drop-in ready, so fleets and factories can use them today without expensive retrofits.

A smart way to export U.S. energy leadership

Much of the SAF produced in Pecos will be exported, making this more than a domestic success story. As Schuetzle put it, "I see us being similar to the way liquefied natural gas grew, an abundant U.S. resource that generates fuel and exports it." That kind of positioning could place the U.S. as a clean fuel leader on the world stage, especially as global aviation pushes to meet net-zero targets.

The potential is enormous. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), SAF could contribute up to 65% of the emissions reduction needed for the airline industry to reach net-zero by 2050. Yet today, it accounts for less than 1% of global jet fuel use. Projects like Roadrunner are essential to bridging that gap.

Why Texas? Why now?

Texas might seem like an unusual player in the clean fuel transition, but it’s actually a strategic goldmine. The state boasts one of the most robust renewable energy portfolios in the U.S., abundant access to carbon sources, and a ready-made workforce skilled in energy infrastructure.

Plus, the regulatory environment in places like Reeves County has proven supportive, and the proximity to export terminals means global distribution is easier and more cost-effective. In short, it’s the perfect place to go big on clean fuels without abandoning the energy expertise Texas is known for.

What comes next

Project Roadrunner is expected to go live in 2027. Between now and then, the facility will not only reshape the local economy, it may help reshape the energy narrative surrounding Texas. Once defined by oil and gas alone, the Lone Star State is quietly becoming a clean fuel powerhouse.

In a world where the energy transition often feels like a slow, uphill battle, Infinium’s move in Pecos is something different: a fast-moving, industrial-scale solution that works with the world as it is, while building the world we want.

And that makes it one to watch.